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instances of wickedness； that his own wives should be forced by
one of his sons； and that he should be treacherously supplanted
by the same son； and that although he had perpetrated his
wickedness secretly； yet should that punishment which he was to
undergo be inflicted publicly upon him； 〃that； moreover；〃 said
he； 〃the child which was born to thee of her shall soon die。〃
When the king was troubled at these messages； and sufficiently
confounded； and said with tears and sorrow that he had sinned；
（for he was without controversy a pious man； and guilty of no sin
at all in his whole life； excepting those in the matter of
Uriah；） God had compassion on him； and was reconciled to him； and
promised that he would preserve to him both his life and his
kingdom； for he said that； seeing he repented of the things he
had done； he was no longer displeased with him。 So Nathan； when
he had delivered this prophecy to the king； returned home。
4。 However； God sent a dangerous distemper upon the child that
was born to David of the wife of Uriah； at which the king was
troubled； and did not take any food for seven days； although his
servants almost forced him to take it； but he clothed himself in
a black garment； and fell down； and lay upon the ground in
sackcloth； entrusting God for the recovery of the child； for he
vehemently loved the child's mother； but when； on the seventh
day； the child was dead； the king's servants durst not tell him
of it； as supposing that when he knew it； he would still less
admit of food； and other care of himself； by reason of his grief
at the death of his son； since when the child was only sick； he
so greatly afflicted himself； and grieved for him： but when the
king perceived that his servants were in disorder； and seemed to
be affected； as those who are very desirous to conceal something；
he understood that the child was dead； and when he had called one
of his servants to him； and discovered that so it was； he arose
up and washed himself； and took a white garment； and came into
the tabernacle of God。 He also commanded them to set supper
before him； and thereby greatly surprised his kindred and
servants； while he did nothing of this when the child was sick；
but did it all when he was dead。 Whereupon having first begged
leave to ask him a question； they besought him to tell them the
reason of this his conduct； he then called them unskillful
people； and instructed them how he had hopes of the recovery of
the child while it was alive； and accordingly did all that was
proper for him to do； as thinking by such means to render God
propitious to him； but that when the child was dead； there was no
longer any occasion for grief； which was then to no purpose。 When
he had said this； they commended the king's wisdom and
understanding。 He then went in unto Bathsheba his wife； and she
conceived and bare a son； and by the command of Nathan the
prophet called his name Solomon。
5。 But Joab sorely distressed the Ammonites in the siege； by
cutting off their waters； and depriving them of other means of
subsistence； till they were in the greatest want of meat and
drink； for they depended only on one small well of water； and
this they durst not drink of too freely； lest the fountain should
entirely fail them。 So he wrote to the king； and informed him
thereof； and persuaded him to come himself to take the city； that
he might have the honor of the victory。 Upon this letter of
Joab's； the king accepted of his good…will and fidelity； and took
with him his army； and came to the destruction of Rabbah； and
when he had taken it by force； he gave it to his soldiers to
plunder it； but he himself took the king of the Ammonites' crown；
whose weight was a talent of gold； （13） and it had in its middle
a precious stone called a sardonyx； which crown David ever after
wore on his own head。 He also found many other vessels in the
city； and those both splendid and of great price； but as for the
men； he tormented them； （14） and then destroyed them； and when he
had taken the other cities of the Ammonites by force； he treated
them after the same manner。
CHAPTER 8。
How Absalom Murdered Amnon； Who Had Forced His Own Sister； And
How He Was Banished And Afterwards Recalled By David。
1。 When the king was returned to Jerusalem； a sad misfortune
befell his house； on the occasion following： He had a daughter；
who was yet a virgin； and very handsome； insomuch that she
surpassed all the most beautiful women； her name was Tamar； she
had the same mother with Absalom。 Now Amnon； David's eldest son；
fell in love with her； and being not able to obtain his desires；
on account of her virginity； and the custody she was under； was
so much out of order； nay； his grief so eat up his body； that he
grew lean； and his color was changed。 Now there was one Jenadab；
a kinsman and friend of his； who discovered this his passion； for
he was an extraordinary wise man； and of great sagacity of mind。
When； therefore； he saw that every morning Amnon was not in body
as he ought to be； he came to him； and desired him to tell him
what was the cause of it： however； he said that he guessed that
it arose from the passion of love。 Amnon confessed his passion；
that he was in love with a sister of his； who had the same father
with himself。 So Jenadab suggested to him by what method and
contrivance he might obtain his desires； for he persuaded him to
pretend sickness； and bade him； when his father should come to
him； to beg of him that his sister might come and minister to
him； for if that were done； he should be better； and should
quickly recover from his distemper。 So Amnon lay down on his bed；
and pretended to be sick； as Jonadab had suggested。 When his
father came； and inquired how he did； he begged of him to send
his sister to him。 Accordingly； he presently ordered her to be
brought to him； and when she was come； Amnon bade her make cakes
for him； and fry them in a pan； and do it all with her own hands；
because he should take them better from her hand ＇than from any
one's else＇。 So she kneaded the flour in the sight of her
brother； and made him cakes； and baked them in a pan； and brought
them to him； but at that time he would not taste them； but gave
order to his servants to send all that were there out of his
chamber； because he had a mind to repose himself； free from
tumult and disturbance。 As soon as what he had commanded was
done； he desired his sister to bring his supper to him into the
inner parlor； which； when the damsel had done； he took hold of
her； and endeavored to persuade her to lie with him。 Whereupon
the damsel cried out； and said； 〃Nay； brother； do not force me；
nor be so wicked as to transgress the laws； and bring upon
thyself the utmost confusion。 Curb this thy unrighteous and
impure lust； from which our house will get nothing but reproach
and disgrace。〃 She also advised him to speak to his father about
this affair； for he would permit him ＇to marry her＇。 This she
said； as desirous to avoid her brother's violent passion at
present。 But he would not yield to her； but； inflamed with love
and blinded with the vehemency of his passion； he forced his
sister： but as soon as Amnon had satisfied his lust； he hated her
immediately； and giving her reproachful words； bade her rise up
and be gone。 And when she said that this was a more injurious
treatment than the former； if； now he had forced her； he would
not let her stay with him till the evening； but bid her go away
in the day…time； and while it was light； that she might meet with
people that would be witnesses of her shame； … he commanded his
servant to turn her out of his house。 Whereupon she was sorely
grieved at the injury and violence that had been offered to her；
and rent her loose coat； （for the virgins of old time wore such
loose coats tied at the hands； and let down to the ankles； that
the inner coats might not be seen；） and sprinkled ashes on her
head； and went up the middle of the city； crying out and
lamenting for the violence that had been offered her。 Now
Absalom； her brother； happened to meet her； and asked her what
sad thing had befallen her； that she was in that plight； and when
she had told him what injury had been offered her； he comforted
her； and desired her to be quiet； and take all patiently； and not
to esteem her being corrupted by her brother as an injury。 So she
yielded to his advice； and left off her crying out； and
discovering the force offered her to the multitude； and she
continued as a widow with her brother Absalom a long time。
2。 When David his father knew this； he was grieved at the actions
of Amnon； but because he had an extraordinary affection for him；
for he was his eldest son； he was compelled not to afflict him；
but Absalom watched for a fit opportunity of revenging this crime
upon him； for he thoroughly hated him。 Now the second year after
this wicked affair about his sister was over； and Absalom was
about to go to shear his own sheep at Baalhazor； which is a city
in the portion of Ephraim； he besought his father； as well as his
brethren； to come and feast with him： but when David excused
himself； as not being willing to be burdensome to him； Absalom
desire